City hosts open day about draft concept design for redevelopment of Strand Street Quarry
09 November 2023
The City of Cape Town will be hosting an open day about the draft concept design for the redevelopment of the Strand Street Quarry on Wednesday, 15 November 2023. Residents are encouraged to make use of this opportunity to ask officials questions, and to submit comments. Read more below:
The public participation process closes on 4 December 2023. Residents can also submit comments at the public open day:
• Wednesday, 15 November 2023
• Attend any time from 13:00 to 19:00
• At the community hall on the corner of Strand Street and Hudson Street in Bo-Kaap
The quarry is located along Strand Street and borders the historic Bo-Kaap and De Waterkant. The concept design proposes to turn the quarry site into a multi-use community precinct that integrates sports, culture, economic activities and tourism in a very unique setting.
Given that the quarry is part of a national heritage site, and in close proximity to Bo-Kaap, the Noon Gun, and Table Mountain National Park, the design integrates tourist related activities, and proposals to preserve and celebrate the rich heritage of the surrounding communities.
‘At the open day we will have maps, artist impressions, and drawings of what is being proposed for the site. This is the ideal opportunity for residents to get a better understanding of what the quarry could look like, once redeveloped. City officials will be present to answer questions and I encourage the surrounding communities in particular, to set time aside and to collaborate with us to refine the concept design,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
The proposed concept design for the Strand Street Quarry is a vision, co-designed by a collective of community representatives, City professionals, and stakeholders at co-design workshops:
• It depicts how the quarry can be turned into a community precinct with multiple uses that integrates sports, culture, economic activities, tourism and City functions
• Makes proposals on how to preserve the rich and unique heritage of the Bo-Kaap and surrounding communities
‘The concept design is progressive and exciting, has the potential to transform the immediate surroundings, and could become a much loved special community precinct, while respecting the religious and cultural values of the area. Residents can also go online to see what is being presented and submit comments,’ said Alderman Andrews.
The draft concept design proposes the following interventions, among others:
• Sport facilities which include a multi-purpose rugby sized astro-turf sporting pitch, cricket practice nets, a spectator stand, multi-purpose hardcourt, clubhouse, changing rooms, facilities management and booking office
• Economic and tourism opportunities which include a market space and trading areas, Bo-Kaap food and spice market and restaurant
• Promote heritage and cultural opportunities among which an exhibition and museum space and multi-purposes meeting space. Opportunities to incorporate the community living heritage into the concept design are also currently being explored
• Accommodate existing municipal utilities – the existing electricity substation and switchgear infrastructure will be retained and the Metro Police accommodated in refurbished and new operational buildings
• Improve the public realm by creating a clearly defined and attractive entrance to the site, improving pedestrian walkways in Hudson and Strand Streets, implement traffic calming and pedestrian crossings, and plant additional trees and landscaping
• The draft concept also addresses a number of technical issues that were raised during engagements, such as (but not limited to) stormwater, engineering services, archaeology, parking and traffic circulation.
Submit comments by 4 December 2023
• Online, at https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/have-your-say
• Via WhatsApp: +27 60 524 7676
• By hand, at the Subcouncil 16 office in Wale Street
The concept design will be finalised once the public participation process has been concluded. The statutory processes related to the proposed development of the site itself, among which a heritage impact assessment and environmental impact assessment, will follow in 2024, and provide the public with further opportunities to comment.
The 2021 Foreshore Gateway Urban Design Vision and Framework identified the Strand Street Quarry as a key development anchor, that could also be used to link the Bo-Kaap, CBD and V&A Waterfront. The proposed concept design is also informed by the recently approved local spatial development framework for the Bo-Kaap, Table Bay District Spatial Development Framework and Environmental Management Framework, and the City’s overarching Metropolitan Spatial Development Framework.
Caption: The Strand Street Quarry site is located between Strand Street and the Bo-Kaap. It is one of three quarries in the Bo-Kaap and part of a national heritage site.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
